Ok. Here's my little
pet peeve. Personally, I think our society is getting a little too
'PC' (
politically correct) these days.
People are just too sensitive.
However, there is one thing that I ask all of you to avoid. I am an
American...but my parents are from
Vietnam. Often, others...especially non-asians...cannot tell what
ethnicity I am. And so, they blurt out in the middle of a conversation with, "WHAT ARE YOU?!"
SOmetimes, I respond with, "I'm human..how about you?" or.."I don't know..last time I checked..I was a guy"
Often, this question is replaced by the ever-so popular, "WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?". Now, this is a slightly less annoying one. They could be asking what city I'm from. However, usually when they notice my perturbed face, they add, "YOU KNOW...WHERE ARE YOUR PEOPLE?" Then...I get a little annoyed. Since when do I own a whole people? I'd say, "I don't remember owning one....maybe I lost it somewhere in the
dryer."
Although, most people have an idea of where I'm from....and just ask, "ARE YOU
CHINESE?!" If you look at the numbers...there's a better chance that I'm Chinese than any other
asian ethnicity..so i don't blame them....but it's still annoying. It's like going up to a
Pakistanian and asking, "Are you
Indian?" or vice versa. Ask any Indian or Pakistanian how that feels.
I prefer the polite, "What's your ethnicity" "Where are you parents originally from?" or "Were you born here in the States?"
Try to be more tactful people. And please don't think I can't see you just because my eyes are a little squinty. hehe.